The truth is it was never going to be a simple process. But it sure looked like it might.

Andre Iguodala came to the Nuggets in a trade last summer, and it appeared the athletic wing was tailor-made for the open-court, fast-break, drive-and-kick system he was being thrust into. But with the season more than half over, Iguodala continues to search for his comfort zone with the Nuggets.

"It's up and down," Iguodala said. "Some days you have good days and some days you start searching a little bit instead of letting it come. (I'm) starting to get it. Practices have been really good for us. (Thursday's practice) was really solid as far as me trying to find my rhythm offensively. Defensively, I'm there. I can do that in my sleep. It's going to get better."

Iguodala's season numbers — he's averaging 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists and is shooting 43.6 percent from the field, 31.2 percent on 3-point attempts and 61.3 percent at the free-throw line — are all below his career numbers. Flourishing in an offense that should play toward his strengths is taking longer than many thought.

To get Iguodala playing at the all-star level he was at with the Philadelphia 76ers, Nuggets coach George Karl is taking the deconstruction route.

"We're trying to simplify the game for him," Karl said. "I think he thinks and complicates the game to a fault at times. Even though our game is kind of ... there's some cuteness to our game, but it's pretty simple. People don't understand, he's a great defender and he's a very good playmaker. If he can improve his game that 10 or 20 percent, that I think he thinks he can do, we'll have a lot of fun in the second half (of the season)."